Sugary Christmas Confections You Have To Try Baking At Home
There’s nothing sweeter than a Christmas confection waiting for you on the table. I am an advocate for baking at home during the holiday season. Sure, you can buy them in the grocery or online. But, baking during the holiday season is such a magical and wonderful activity you can do with your loved ones to celebrate the season. Even if you’re not a seasoned baker yet, these recipes are easy to do and can impress anyone in the family.
These five sugary Christmas confections are sure to make your home smell delicious and your stomach full!
classic sugar cookie
The holiday season can’t start without some classic sugar cookies. If you’re a first-time baker, this is an easy recipe for you to roll up your sleeves for. It’s fun to decorate the cookies with family and friends, plus you can make a mini-competition out of it! This is also the recipe I used for my first attempt to bake for Christmas, and the results were great! I used smaller cookie cutters so we had so many cookies to tide us over to New Year. The recipe below makes 36 cookies.
how to make the classic sugar cookies:
The first thing you need to do is to cream your butter and sugar. You can whisk them in a bowl or use the stand mixer with a paddle attachment. Next, add the egg and vanilla, In a separate bowl, combine your dry ingredients. Make sure to sift them before putting them in a bowl. Slowly incorporate the dry mixture into your wet mixture by adding them in parts. Roll the dough into a bowl and chill for 2 hours.
You can preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit once your dough is done chilling. Roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness on a flat surface and use cookie cutters to shape your cookies. Make sure to flour or spray the surface with cooking oil before rolling it out to prevent your dough from sticking. Place them on the baking sheet and bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool before icing.
chocolate crinkles
Baking your own chocolate crinkles for Christmas is so much better than buying them because you get to determine how sweet your cookies are. I used this same recipe for my Christmas bake last year and it was so chocolatey and sweet because I added chocolate chips to the recipe. I also added the espresso powder even though it’s an optional ingredient because it brings out the chocolate flavor more. It was the perfect Christmas confection to nibble on when we were waiting to open our presents at midnight.
how to make the chocolate crinkles cookies:
In a large bowl, combine your flour, salt, and baking powder. Next, cream your butter and sugar by either whisking them together or using a stand mixer. Add the cocoa powder and espresso powder (if you have it) to the mixture. Next, add your eggs and vanilla. Put the dry mixture in and mix until well combined.
Cover the bowl and let it chill overnight or for at least four hours. Preheat your oven to 350 Fahrenheit and scoop out 1-inch balls from your batter. Roll the dough in powdered sugar before placing them on the baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes. The edges should be done when you take them out of the oven.
chocolate mint chip cookie
Tis’ the season to bake these yummy mint chocolate chip cookies! I wasn’t a huge fan of mint chocolate when I was younger, but now it has become one of my favorite flavors. This Christmas confection is perfect as a gift favor for visiting friends or just something to snack on while you’re cozying up and watching your favorite Christmas movies.
how to make the chocolate mint chip cookies:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare your baking sheet with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, whisk your flour, baking soda, and cocoa. In a separate bowl, cream your butter and sugar until smooth. Add your eggs one at a time to the mixture then add your vanilla. Gradually add your dry mixture to your wet mixture until well combined.
Mix in the mint chocolate chips. Roll the dough into 2-inch balls and place them on the baking sheet. Top each dough ball with mint chocolate chips. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until cookies are cooked but are still soft in the center. Remove from oven and let it sit for 5 minutes before moving to a cooling rack. Let it cool completely before eating!
white chocolate candy bark
If you want to make a Christmas dessert that looks good with minimal effort, then try making a white candy bark. It’s just melted chocolate with dried fruits and nuts that you’ll freeze again and break into shards. It’s perfect as an edible center table decoration for any party you’ll host this December.
how to make the white candy bark:
Line your baking pan with foil, then brush with butter. Microwave your white chocolate chips on high until melted. Stir until smooth then add your nutmeg, dried fruits, and nuts. Spread the melted chocolate into the baking pan and chill until it hardens. Break into pieces and voilà, you have the sweetest and easiest Christmas confection!
moist orange bundt cake
This is the beautiful cake I’m planning to bake for Christmas this year. The word bundt cake is derived from the German word bundkuchen meaning a cake for a gathering. Nothing says gathering more than a Filipino Christmas party! This orange cake is perfect for a centerpiece at your Noche Buena or Christmas morning when you don’t want to cook just yet. Just heat it and take a slice of this Christmas confection. You can even make it in batches to give to your family and friends!
how to make the moist orange bundt cake:
You will need a 24-26 cm bundt cake pan for this recipe. First, preheat your oven to 360 degrees Fahrenheit. Remember to thoroughly butter and flour your bundt cake pan. Separate the eggs. Beat the egg white until stiff and set aside. Beat the egg yolks, sugar, and vanilla extract until pale and fluffy. Slowly add the oil to the mixture until combined.
Add the orange juice and zest. Fold in your dry ingredients to your egg mixture. Add your egg whites and fold them into the mixture as well. Pour the mixture into the cake pan and bake for 50 minutes. Make sure the cake is cooked by performing the skewer test. Once you have taken it out of the oven, let it rest for 15 minutes before releasing it from the bundt pan. Let it cool completely before dusting it with powdered sugar.
